All produce growers who did not attend voluntary produce food safety (GAP/GHP) training sessions in 2011 or previous years are encouraged to do so in 2012. This training program is offered by the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, and the training certificate is issued by the Delaware Department of Agriculture. Trainings are also sponsored by the Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association of Delaware. Training covers microbial food contaminants, outbreaks associated with produce, how produce becomes contaminated, Good Agricultural Practices in the field (water sources; animals, manures, and compost; field sanitation; and worker hygiene) and Good Handling Practices from harvest to sales (packing area sanitation, worker hygiene, storage, handling, and shipping).

For wholesale growers, this training certification program satisfies some wholesale buyer requirements that growers attend GAP/GHP training. For those expecting to go through an audit this year, this program will help you to know what is covered in an audit and how to develop your farm food safety plan.

Smaller growers who market locally are also encouraged to become trained and learn about best ways to keep produce safe from food borne pathogens.

Growers that market locally and do limited or no wholesale will only need to do 3 hours of training.

Growers that do significant wholesale must attend 6 hours of training to be certified.

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